I get a certain amount from Mr. Sali’s paycheck every week for groceries, gas, cat food, etc. like a 50’s housewife :rolleyes: but it’s not enough, so I tap the ‘savings’ account at the credit union a couple days before payday. We have our college grad home living with us and she needs spending money, gas money, etc. But the price of everything has gone up, so that ‘certain amount’ hasn’t been enough for quite some time, anyway. We are fortunate in that our house is paid off, we aren’t in any debt, and I am the very essence of thrifty!
My current income is adequate for my expenses but only because I was able to put my student loans in forbearance. If I had to pay on those right now I would be completely screwed.
Currently looking for work so that I can move out and room with a friend. So yes. Need. :3
Marriage breakup = Need money.
I would have thought that most people would fall in the third category, since it seems like we all adjust to whatever income level we have.
Now that we’re both employed, and the wedding and the down payment for the condo are done, and Craigslist has been hit for some furniture, we’ve been saving a good chunk of what we make. But that’s a recent development, so although we have a decent emergency fund, we’re not exactly rich. I’m hoping the car will hold out for a while yet so we can continue stashing away cash.
I didn’t vote. You seem to have left out an option between these two
which pretty much covers it for me. Not to mention my and my SO’s expectations of inheritances from our fathers.
I have a moderate amount of tuition I need to pay off in the next few months, but generally break even/save a bit from my paychecks in addition to having around 10% pre-tax put in a 401(k); pretty good considering that I work a low-level unskilled labor job, am paying out of pocket for school, and have a pretty comfortable life with a few luxuries and hobbies. It’d be nice to have more of a cushion (at least enough to just pay my tuition as it is due, rather than floating it for a month or two), but I really don’t need more money.
That’s why they call it a recession. 
I notice there’s no “I live beyond my means on credit” option.
I reckon you’re right Zsofia, I didn’t think about that. Things didn’t get too bad here, I think because we stay on the bottom of the heap anyway - we didn’t have far to fall.
You fall in the second category. You’re not set for life yet. So to clarify, the second category could be read as:
I make significantly more than I need, but not enough saved yet to quit or retire right now.
Poll options have a character limit, so I had to shorten my initial description.
I consider that category four, I make significantly less than I need, but have savings, resources or charity that I can still tap. The “resource” being a credit card.
I’m just sick of living paycheck to paycheck. For example, yesterday’s decision was “Should I buy this pack of hot dogs for dinner? I guess we don’t really need buns.” But it was payday today, so life is good for just short of another two weeks.
No, I am blessed to have enough money to live on. I’m not rich but I don’t sweat the bills or anything. I live on a budget and have always adjusted my lifestyle to my income. Money is necessary to live but I don’t think of it like I used to. It’s just a means to live but not my reason for living. The best things in life are free!
I answered “we have significantly more than we need, but not enough saved to quit or retire.” Which, of course, means we don’t have enough money. But I assume you are talking short term - i.e. can I meet the obligations I have over the next month with my salary.
That’s sort of the thing about money though. There are probably times when Melinda Gates wakes up in the middle of the night thinking “if we were richer, we could feed more babies in Africa.”
I voted for the middle one, because it’s a big jump to “significantly more than we need”. But we are out of debt, we have nice things, we put money away in savings…We could stand to put more in savings, though. And I could always use more money.
I voted #4, since that’s the situation we’re in right now this second. But it’s by choice, since we both quit our jobs last month and the plan is not to look for another one for a few more weeks at least. However, the savings we’re living on could last us about 3 years if necessary, so not on the breadline yet. Generally I’d say category 3.
I voted #2, but that’s for a strict definition of “need.” We have an average income for a family of four, and save a little, give to charity, and are completely debt-free except for our reasonable mortgage. If we cut back unnecessary expenses (satellite TV, cell phones, WoW subscription, Netflix, magazines…) we would have quite a bit more than we need for essentials like the mortgage, utilities, clothes and food.
We wouldn’t turn down more money, certainly, and if we really wanted more income my wife could go back to work. But we’re comfortable and satisfied.
Melinda Gates is in the first category and as I mentioned up thread, even those people want more money. Everybody wants more money. I think even Mother Teresa would want more money so she can give it to others or use it to help others.
Of course I don’t want to take over the world, it was an lame attempt at humor.
No, its definately a “want” to maintain and improve my current lifestyle… I voted that I make substantially more than I need and I certainly do not make ‘a lot’ of money. After viewing the results in which it would seem a good number of people sound like they barely make as much as they need. So apparently many responders misunderstood need, because I find it hard to believe that people that presumably have a computer and leisure time to post on the SDMB are barely making enough money to survive.
So is the question how much money do you need…to be happy?